of berkeley



S. GREEN DRYING APPARATUS Sept. 1, 1931.

2 sheets-sheet 1 chm up Original Filed Jan. 13. 1928 Mfhess s as- M S.GREEN DRYING Arman-us Sept. 1, 1931.

Original Filed Jan. 13. 1928 2 Shasta-Shoot 2 Reissued Sept. 1, 1931UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE:

SHERWOOD GREEN, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN COTTONMACHINERY 00., OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA DRYINGAPPARATUS Original 80. 1,695,652, dated December 18, 1928, Serial No.246,568, filed January 13, 1928. Application for reissue filed May 14,1930. Serial No. 452,414.

This invention relates to apparatus for drying cotton and other materialpossessing similar physical characteristics.

In inning cotton, it frequently happens that t e cotton, in its naturalstate, contalns too much moisture to enable it to be acted upon in thein and heretofore considerable dlfiiculty hasieen experienced in dryingsuch 1. cotton as to render it susceptible to the gininvention has asone of its objects to provide an apparatus and method by the use ofwhich moist or wet cotton may be thoroughly dried and rendered suitablefor ginning, the invention contemplating, in this connection, anapparatus and method which will operate continuously and automaticallyto substantially uniformly dry cotton fed thereto, regardless of thedifferent percentages of moisture contained in difierent portions of thebatch or batches of cotton delivered to the apparatus, so that theinvention has as a further object to provide a cotton drying apparatusand method which will deliver, after treatment, cotton of a uniformcharacter, the ap aratus being so constructed and the method being suchas to providefor a prolonged subjection of the portion of the cottonwhich has the greatest moisture percentages, and asubjection of thedryer cotton to the drying operation for a shorter period of time.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an apparatus of the classdescribed capable of adjustment of certain component parts to adapt theapparatus to act with maximum efiiciency upon cotton in accordance withthe physical state of the cotton, so that the apparatus may, at alltimes, operate with a maximum efliciency.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drying apparatus of theclass described which may be operated with a minimum expenditure ofpower and the operation readily controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drying apparatus which,while designed primarily for use in drying cotton prior to ginning, maybe equally as well emning operation, and therefore the present ployed indrying other material of a similar character.

While the accompanying drawings and the description which is to follow,constitute a disclosure of the preferred embodiment of the invention, itwill be understood that various changes may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ofthe drying apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure is a detail vertical transverse sectional view takensubstantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the directionindicated by the arorws;

Figure 3 is a similar view on the line 33 of Fi ure 1 looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is a similar view on the line 44 of Figure 1 looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

Figure 5 is a detail vertical longitudinal sectional view through thelower portion of the apparatus;

Figure 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in sectionillustrating an adjusting means constituting a part of the apparatus;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 1 lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows.

Generally speaking the apparatus, embodying the invention, comprises aninclined cylindrical, rotary drying chamber into the lower end of whichthe cotton, to be dried, is

delivered, means for supplying a blast of heated air to the chamber atthe lower end thereof to cause travel of the cotton upwardly through thechamber, and means within the chamber for agitating the cotton duringits period of'travel through the chamber, and in the drawings thechamber is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and the same is rota--tably supported, by ameans which will now be described, upon asupporting frame structure which is indicated in general by the num- Aeral 2 and which may be of the truss formation shown in the drawings orof any other character, this structure embodying however a pair ofspaced parallel member indicated by the numeral 3 which extendsubstantially eals rectly toward the lower end of the said chamber 1.

As reviously explained, the invention contemp ates sub'ectin the cottonto be dried, to the action of eate air, and for this purpose the head 27is rovided with a tubular extension 34 adapte to be connected by alength of flexible hose 35, with a pipe through which heated air underpressure is to be delivered from a suitable source of supply, and inorder that the supply of air to the chamber 1, by wa of the spout 34 maybe regulated, a cut-o plate 36 is preferably mounted in the spout nearits juncture with the head 27 and may be adjusted, as will be evident byreference to Figure 5, so as to regulate the flow of air through thespout. At this point it will be observed that the delivery end 33 of thespout 30 is located in the path of the blast of heated air delivered byway of the spout 30 and head 27, to the chamber 1, so that an upwardlyflowing current of air is created throughout the length of thechamber 1. In the operation of the apparatus, this blast is regulated sothat it will have suflicient force to carry with it, upwardly throughthe chamber 1, the cotton which is delivered from the spout 30,'and inorder that the cotton de- Iivered into the lower end of the heatingchamber may be thoroughly agitated in its passage through the saidchamber, baffles 37 are arranged upon the inner side of the wall of thechamberand extend longitudinally thereof throughout the entire length ofthe chamber and these bafi'les project radially in- -wardly as clearlyshown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be evident that,the greater the.

inclination of the heating chamber 1, the greater will be the tendencyfor the cotton to settle by gravity in the chamber, and in practice theangle of inclination of the chamber will be varied and the cut-off plate36 will be adjusted so as to regulate the blast of heated air deliveredinto-the lower end of the chamber, both in consonance with the moisturecontent of the cotton to be treated. It will also be understood at thispoint that the baflies 37 will pick up cotton which tends to fall to thelower side of the drying chamher and carry the same upwardly, the cottonfalling by gravity as it reaches the most elevated point to which it canbe carried by the bafiles. and then dropping by gravity,

acrossthe blast of heated air passing through the chamber, to the lowerside of the chamber. In this manner a very thorough circulation of theair and action of the air on the cotton is insured and in this mannerthe drying of the cotton is greatly expedited. Where the cotton is insuch condition that it carries a considerable rcentage of moisture, itwill be found desirable to so angularly adjust the heatingand dryingchamber and the blast of heated air delivered thereto, as to provide fora somewhat retarded passage of the cotton through the chamber and, wherethe cotton is in a condition containing but little moisture, the dryingchamber may be brought more nearly to the horizontal position and theblast of air may be regulated so as to provide for a more rapid passageof the J cotton through the chamber. In any event, however, the moisturepresent in the cotton will not be evenly distributed, and therefore theparticles of cotton which are nearly devoid of moisture or, in otherwords, are practically dry, will be carried through the chamher morerapidly than the particles which contain considerable moisture and whichare therefore heavier. It will also be evident from the foregoingdescription that, as the cotton is elevated and then dropped, by thebaffles, within the drying chamber, it will be disintegrated by theblast of air as well as being acted upon by the blast to drive ofl themoisture by evaporation, and consequently, when the cotton has beensufficiently disintergrated and has been deprived of its moisture, it.will readily pass from the upper or delivery end of the drying chamberunder the influence of the blast of heated air de-- livered into thechamber, and may fall by gravity into suitable receptacles arrangedbeneath the said end of the chamber, or the dried cotton may bepermitted to fall onto a conveyor arranged to travel beneath the saidend of the chamber, or, if desired, this end of the chamber may bepositioned in proximity to the cotton gin and the cotton delivered fromthe chamber to the gin by the creation of a suction force.

While the arrangement of the cut-off plate 36 and the delivery end ofthe spout 30, as illustrated in the drawings andas heretofore described,is desirable, it will be evident that these parts may be otherwisearranged and located, if found desirable.

While the apparatus herein illustrated and described is designedprimarily for use in drying cotton, it will be evident that it may beemployed in drying other material of a similar nature and suflicientlylight to be adapted to be conveyed through the drying chamber by theblast of air delivered to said chamber.

I claim:

1. In drying apparatus, arotary inclined drying chamber, means fordelivering the material to be dried to the lower portion of the chamber,and means for delivering a blast of air into the chamber in a directionto proride total current of air flowing longitudiall, within the chamberthempper of nelination of mid chamber, means thematarialtobedriedtothelewerportmniof the chamber, and means for Adhering abledloi an into thechamber .gs im'tdimctionto provideior Icon-ant of air longitudinallywithin the chamber tow the upper end thereof.

. 8. In drying apparatus, a rotary inclined drying means for the Amaterial to be dried to the lower 10: of thechmber andmns fordelivenngablaet of air 'mtnthe at a point below and inldmm-of thepointof delivery ofthe Inatarial into the chamber whenaby to ,go a meat ofair flowirgllengatudmally withinthechamber in the 'rectum ofthe upperend thereof and conduct the materlal to be flwrough the chamber-duringthe dry- :ingoperntien. n: 4. Indrying 1 as, a rotary inclined imber, L.ii upm the inner mde aimed chamber for 5 g material delivead intother'tobe dried, means im-deliveningthemaherialtobedriedtothe :4 lower portionof the chamber, and means for Ming a blast of ail-into the chamber atthe lowerthereof and in a direction torovideiur a current of airflowinglongiy within the chamber toward dryin e co g or, ahead in which thelower end-of the r is rotatably received, a into the chamber throughsaid head-tor de wering mterial into the lower piit'tion of thechanbeg'the mid head having a spout extens on, and a compressed airdelivery pipe connected with said extension to deliver a blast ofairinto the chamber in a direction to travel l0ngitndi ldlylzhueia in thedirection of the upper and 1 dumber. 'nchned -6. n ryingappantngarotarylchamber, a head in which the lower "and the chamber is mtatablyreceived, a spout leading intothe chamber through said fordeliveringmaterial into the lower portion oi the chamber, the said head having aspout extension, a compressed air delivery pipe connected with saidextension to deliver a hlam'of'compremed air into the -.inadimctiontotnvcll' 1y there n 'ilthe direction of the upper end of saidchamber, and baflies upon the inner sarfaee of the wall of the chamberconstituting means it!" the: material ha'ng carried through aid chamberby the blast of air.-

" 7. in drying tun, a frame stmeture for ti o; movement, opl ableto'adjust the frame sta'mture,--a-rotary .dnrectioato I .ing longituinally within the chamber, to-

' vide for a current of air flowing longitudinalrem inclined dryingchamber supported upon frame structure, means for rotating said chamber,means for delivering the material to be dried to the lower portion ofthe chamher, and means for delivering a blast of air into the lowerportion of the chamber in a ovide for a current of air flow- Ward theupper end thereof. 1 d 8. In drying apparatus, a rotary inc ine dryingchamber, an inclined frame supporting said chamber, a shaft rotatablymounted in said frame, a worm upon the shaft, an

' annular worm gear encompassing the chamher and meshing with said worm,means for: delivering the material to be dried to the lowesglportion ofthe chamber, and means for vering a blast of air into the lower portionof the chamber in a direction to pm- I, within the chamber toward theupper end ereof.

9. In dry' apparatus, a cylindrical, rotary, incl' chamber, an inclinedframe for supporting said chamber, rollers upon the inmost ite sidesthereof, annular rails surrounding the said chamber and riding upon therolls, means for im siting rotary motion to the chamber, a he at thelower and of the chamber, a spout extending Into said head fordelivering the material tohedriedintothelower portionofthe chamber, andmeans for delivering a blast of air through the head and into thechamber in a direction to provide for a current of air flowinglongitudinally within the chamber tovivarhtlae npperend thereof.

rying apparatus, a rotary inclmed-' dryi chamber, means for deliveringthe material to be dried to the lower portion of the chamber, means fordelivering a blast of air into the chamber in a direction to provide fora current of air flowing longitudinally within the chamber toward theupper end thereof, and means for controllingthe" supply of air. l

11. In drying apparatus, a rotary inclined drying chamber, means fordelivering the material to be dried to the lower portion of the chamber,means for delivering a blast of 116 air into the chamber in a. directionto provide for a current of air flowing longitudinal- 1 within thechamber toward the upper end thereof, means for controllin the supply ofair, andmeans for varying the angle of inm clination of the chamber.

12. In drying apparatus, a rotary inclined drying chamber, means fordelivering thematerlal to be dried to the lower portion of the chamber,means for delivering a blast of air into the chamber in a direction toprovide for a current of'air flowing longitudinall s within the chambertoward the upper end thereof, and means for varying the inclination ofthe chamber.

13. In a drying apparatus, an inclined drying chamber, means fordelivering the material to be dried to the lower portion of the chamber,means for delivering a blast of dryin gas into the chamber in a.direction to provi e a current of said gas flowing longitudinally withinthe chamber toward the upper end thereof, and means for effectingagitation of material within the chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

SHERWOOD GREEN.

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